Best of the Maldives: Watsu Pool – One & Only Reethi Rah

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One and Only Reethi Rah watsu pool

Water based healing is the principle behind One & Only Reethi Rah’s Watsu pool. “Watsu” is Japanese for “water”, in this case mineral water from sea warmed to 36 degrees and used for stretching sessions overlooking the ocean.

“(WATer ShiatSU) is a form of aquatic therapy, which combines massage, yoga-like stretches and point work carried out in skin temperature water. The weightless environment of the water allows for graceful, fluid movements which can release muscle tension, improve circulation and increase your range of motion.”

Even without its therapeutic properties, it is a distinctive spa relaxation pool.

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Best of the Maldives: Private Pool Deck – Constance Halaveli

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Constance Halaveli private pool deck

If private shades are your thing, then Constance Halaveli offers it right out in the main pool. Mini, canopied private jetties are built over a shallow rock pool looking out towards the beach and ocean. Like having your own private deck but with a beach view (which water villas won’t give you) and instant access to a quick Olympic-sized freshwater dip.

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Best of the Maldives: Glass Floor Pool – Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu

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Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu glass floor pool Sakis Papadopolous

When I added the ‘Room Type’ database and profiles, two of the first characteristics that I catalogued were whether the room had (a) a Jacuzzi/pool, and (b) a glass floor (for water villas). Well, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu features a ‘two-for’…a water villa pool WITH a glass floor. Kind of an aqueous parfait. Look through water to see…water.

I was alerted to it by eagle-eyed Sakis Papadopoloous of Dreaming of Maldives in his post this week titled ‘Your TOP 10 Maldives Dreamy Resorts in 2012’ where his dazzling photo (see above) graced their runner-up entry.

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Best of the Maldives: Aquarium Pool – Four Seasons Kuda Huraa

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Four Seasons Kuda Huraa private pool

Perhaps the most tragic natural disaster of the decade, the Boxing Day Tsunami, happened eponymously today. While hitting the hardest in its South Pacific epicentre, its titanic power travelled thousands of miles to the Maldives who suffered fatalities and much loss (which on a per capita basis was actually one of the hardest hit countries in its path).

One of the resorts hit hardest was Four Seasons Kuda Huraa (in fact, a work colleague was a guest on the island that day) so today’s post features on of their distinctions. In fact, it features something more Maldivian-like and completely un-tsunami-like.

A tsunami is so antithetical to the mill pond like stillness of the typical Maldivian seas. Swimming in the Maldives is like swimming in an aquarium. And, at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa you can actually ‘swim in an aquarium’ of sorts as well in its glass walled private pool (see above). However, it is only stocked with with the aquatic species Guestus Bikinius.

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Best of the Maldives: Pool Number – Beach House Iruveli

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Beach House at Iruveli pool

One of the dividends to my WTM visit is coming away with a notebook full of new ‘Best of Maldives’ candidates through my discussions with the various resorts and the Tourism Ministry folks. One of my revelations was meeting with Haydee Cruz of The Beach House at Iruveli and learning about their ‘all pool villas’ concept.

Iruveli are neither the only nor the first ‘all pool villa’ resort (eg. Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru has the same concept), but they are the biggest. With their 83 rooms (versus 48 are Vabbinfaru) plus their 2 (!) main pools AND a special kids pool at the kids club, they coming to a splashing 86 pools in total (hat tip to Liz Panchang who pointed out the distinction). And these are substantial pools, eg. Length: 3.2m, Width: 2.3m, Depth: 1.1m.

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Best of the Maldives: Pool Waterfall – Sun Island

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Sun Island pool fountains

I love waterfall features in pools (no not Michael Phelps kind of pool ‘waterfalls’…in fact, one might want to be careful around the Conrad Rangali pool). Perhaps it is because they make the pool more alive with animation. Perhaps it is because it evokes one of my all time favourite adventures trekking into a Togolese jungle to visit the Badou Cascades. Perhaps they evoke some other stereotypically imprinted image of tropical paradise. Our very first resort in the Maldives featured one – the erstwhile Laguna Beach, now Velassaru (unfortunately, now sans waterfall)l. Sheraton Full Moon had an impressive one, but it was more adjacent to the pool than integrated into the pool (you can’t swim under it). So I was on a bit of a quest for the best Pool Waterfall in the Maldives.

I found my heart’s desire at Sun Island. Sun has not just one, but two striking waterfall fountains. Doubly dramatic.

Sun Island pool fountains 2

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